Ronnie O'Sullivan has made history at the World Open in Yushan, China, by recording the highest break ever achieved in a professional snooker match. The 50-year-old seven-time world champion hit a remarkable 153 against Ryan Day in the quarter-finals, surpassing Jamie Burnett's previous record of 148. O'Sullivan potted the green as an extra red before adding his opening black and then reeling off 15 reds, 13 further blacks and two pinks before clearing the final six colours to reach 153. He went on to secure a dominant 5-0 victory.
Meanwhile, world number one Judd Trump has revealed he is effectively homeless after being forced to leave his home in Dubai due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Trump moved from the UK to the UAE in January 2024, citing better weather and snooker facilities, but the recent conflict led him to relocate to Bangkok, Thailand. Speaking about the situation, Trump said: 'I had to leave [Dubai]. So we went to Bangkok. Yeah, it's a bit up in the air at the moment really. I don't really think I can go back at the moment, just in case I get stuck there.'
Trump explained that he and his brother Jack are now living in a hotel and taking each day as it comes. 'It's just difficult at the moment because you don't know where I'm going to be living. Every day is different. Just living in a hotel for the last few weeks really. It's not nice to be not at home, not knowing what you're going to do,' he said. Despite the challenges, Trump managed to practise in Thailand and is competing in the World Open, where he faced Hossein Vafaei in his quarter-final on Friday afternoon.
O'Sullivan, who has progressed to the semi-finals, also spoke about overcoming a difficult period in his career. After beating Shaun Murphy in the previous round, he described his recent form as 'torturous' and 'really hard work'. However, he expressed relief at being able to play without fear, saying: 'For me, just going out there and playing is a victory. Whether I win or lose is irrelevant. For me to be able to go out there and not feel scared is a victory.'
